‘What talent!’

ALBANY music group About FACE Youth Choir took the top gong at this year’s Albany Music Eisteddfod last week with a near-perfect score of 99 out of 100.

From more than 200 entries, the vocal ensemble impressed the adjudicators the most with their renditions of Lullaby and Miniyama Nayo.

Artistic director of the choir Sue Findlay couldn’t be happier with the result.

“About FACE is very excited to have received such high accolades from the vocal adjudicator,” she said.

“The Eisteddfod gives performers the wonderful opportunity to be critiqued by musicians at the top of their field.”

Frances Ullrich won the Mary Thompson Award for most promising instrumental student and Elsabe de Klerk, Isabella Pietropaolo and Francine ‘t Hart each won an Australian String Association Award.

Eisteddfod Committee President Elizabeth Burns congratulated all of the participants.

“It has been a fabulous week of music with our local students impressing once again with very high marks and standard of performance,” she said.

“We are a privileged community to foster such talent.”

The Adjudicators Choice Awards were given to Rosie Talbot with voice, Sjaan and Bryce vander Heide with a voice duet, Lily Turbill on double bass, Lila Wenzel on piano, John Calvin School Recorder Group Year 9, Albany District Schools Concert Band 1, Emma Turbill and Julie Parish with a cello duet, and Elsabe de Klerk on violin.

Adjudicators Helen Tuckey and Matt Ward were blown away by the talent of competitors.

“What talent!” Ms Tuckey said.

“It is a great honour to adjudicate such talented students with such a supportive community.”

“Congratulations to all the competitors,” Mr Ward added.

“I’ve enjoyed every single performance and have been impressed by the level of talent and preparation.”